COURSE OF FIRE: 50-Round Off-Duty Pistol

Each issue of The Police Marksman willfeature a “Course of Fire” that policeofficers can use for their owndepartment’s training. Training courses can be shared and used “as is” or you may wish to modify them as needed. If you have a firearms course that has worked well with your own department’s range training, send it to us and we’ll pay you $50 if it’s chosen to be shared here. Try to keep the round count at a single box of 50 rounds for pistol courses as we know today’s ammo budgets are challenging. Courses with movement, cover, shields, low light, etc. are beneficial to all police officers, so follow the standard instructional format like this issue’s course and e-mail it to us at steventracy@hendonpub.com.

Required Items and Materials

1. Off-Duty pistol/Extra magazines or Speed Loaders/Off-Duty holster

2. Ammunition (50 rounds)

3. Bullet-Resistant Vest (Optional)

Instructional Goal:

This 50-round course of fire simulates police off-duty pistol drawing and firing. It is designed for inside the waistband or belt carry holsters. Care should be taken that officers are capable of re-holstering one handed and not sweeping their muzzle over their support hand when re-holstering. Course may be modified to suit various off-duty pistols/revolvers. Course is not designed for ankle, pocket, or shoulder holster-style draw. Care should be taken if clothing or a jacket covers the holster to be sure the pistol does not snag during the draw.

Instructional Objectives:

At the conclusion of this block of instruction, the student will be able to:

1. Draw his/her off-duty pistol from a concealed carry holster

2. Load and reload his/her off-duty pistol quickly

3. Manipulate the controls of his/her off-duty pistol

4. Fire from a standing position

5. Draw and fire quickly and on target

Lesson Plan:

1. Introduction

a. Introduce self

b. State your qualifications

c. Explain course of fire as described in Body

d. Times may be extended one or two seconds at discretion of range officer if thumb strap or retention devices are used on off-duty holsters

e. Modification for only one or two magazines or 5-shot

revolvers at range officers’ discretion

f. Course of fire is best when targets automatically edge and face in allotted time for each string of fire. Time limit puts pressure on officers to induce stress for realism.

2. Explain why practice is necessary for drawing, focusing on front sight, and shooting quickly. All are important during an off-duty, deadly force confrontation.

• Fast sight picture, shoot center mass shots quickly, take time to aim well for head shots

• Fast trigger squeeze without jerking trigger and upsetting sights

Body:

A. Course of fire on the range

1. Each officer will clear his/her off-duty pistol on the range and then empty his/her magazines.

2. Each officer will then be issued a 50-round box of practice ammunition.

3. Each officer will initially load six rounds in each of three magazines with instruction to top off magazines when necessary with six rounds.

4. Each officer will safely load a round in the chamber of his/her pistol when on the range, at the command of the range officer, when about to begin the course of fire.

5. At 4 yards, each officer will be instructed on command to draw and fire his/her off-duty pistol from his/her off-duty holster: 2 rounds in 4 seconds, then re-holster. On command, each officer will again draw and fire a second string of 2 rounds in 4 seconds, then re-holster. On command, a third string of 2 rounds in 4 seconds, reload and then re-holster.

6. At 7 yards, each officer will be instructed on command to draw and fire his/her off-duty pistol from his/her off-duty holster: 3 rounds in 7 seconds, firing 2 to center mass and 1 to the head. On command, another 3 rounds in 7 seconds, firing 2 to center mass and 1 to the head. Reload and then re-holster.

7. At 10 yards, each officer will be instructed on command to draw and fire his/her off-duty pistol from his/her off-duty holster: 6 rounds, reload, and fire 6 more rounds in 20 seconds.

8. The same target may be used for the remainder of the course or a second target may be used to more easily score the second half of the course.

9. At 7 yards, each officer will be instructed on command to draw and fire his/her off-duty pistol from his/her off-duty holster: 2 rounds in 4 seconds, then re-holster. On command, each officer will again draw and fire a second string of 2 rounds in 4 seconds, then re-holster. On command, a third string of 2 rounds in 4 seconds, reload and then re-holster.

10. At 10 yards, each officer will be instructed on command to draw and fire his/her off-duty pistol from his/her off-duty holster: 3 rounds in 7 seconds, firing 2 to center mass and 1 to the head. On command, another 3 rounds in 7 seconds, firing 2 to center mass and 1 to the head. Reload and then re-holster.

11. At 15 yards, each officer will be instructed on command to draw and fire his/her off-duty pistol from his/her off-duty holster: 6 rounds, reload, and fire 6 more rounds in 20 seconds.

12. At 15 yards, fire the last 2 rounds from the box of 50 center mass with no time limit.

B. Score target on 500-point system.

1. 350 score is passing. Headshots are 10 points for a hit anywhere on the target’s head and above the body. Anywhere else not on the head is a miss for zero points.

2. Explain that (due to speed, reloading, head shots, etc.) scores may not be as high as normal qualification target scores.

Conclusion

A. Questions

B. Thanks

Caption:

1. Most off-duty incidents occur close and fast. Prepare your officers to draw and hit quickly.

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